Make the most of the moment and walk away smiling,is what seems to be the mans motto. Acclaimed singer Shaans attitude towards life is marked by his will to strain out and remember the good from events in life. Reflecting on his four-month stint on popular dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Ja,the singer says,It was a very positive experience. I performed dance routines that involved stunts and gymnastics. Being able to execute those routines told me I have no fitness issues. I have emerged with more confidence and belief in myself. Shaan,honing his dancing skills for the first time on national television,made it to the finals but could not win the competition. I wasnt really there to win the competition. My idea was to see how far I can stretch myself, says the 40-year-old singer,adding,Initially,I was self-conscious and awkward. But I soon acclimatised to the new situation and gave it my best. Now,he is contracting back into routine. I am realigning myself. I just released a Bengali album comprising my renditions of Rabindra Sangeet,titled Tomra Ja Bolo. Back to doing live shows,I am also embarking on a music direction venture as a part of a duo. I have sung in vernacular languages,and the latest is for a movie in the Tulu dialect, says Shaan,who performed at the Pune Festival on Monday. As a singer,Shaan started out very young,having made his debut at the age of 17. Later,in mid-90s,he contributed greatly to Indias then burgeoning but shortlived independent pop music scene before winding up as a formidable voice in mainstream Bollywood music. Reflecting on his will to keep on experimenting with new things,Shaan,says,I wouldnt essentially call myself a singer. Id like to believe Im a creative person and keep reinventing myself. While admitting that film music gives one unparalleled mass popularity,Shaan says Bollywood music is in doldrums. The biggest problem is that nobody is physically buying music. Ninety per cent of music is being pirated. It becomes very hard to gauge the listening trends of the country, says Shaan. He adds,Every now and then a trend is set but nobody takes the effort to check its veracity. As a result,music is qualitatively declining. Then there is the evil auto-tuning which takes the soul out of music by digitally correcting mediocre voices and feeding them to listeners on loop. In our times, says Shaan,the longevity of an artiste was ensured by hard-selling oneself. I dont wish to give in to such sensationalism. I have been around for a long time and worked on my own terms; and have largely come out unscathed.
